Protesters want to pay taxes, but don't want immoral war

Tax Day has come and gone, but some of us have decided Caesar has strayed too far with this unjust war in Iraq. We are rendering some of our tax dollars instead to what we believe God wants us to be about in our local communities.

We are Christians and residents of the Port Huron area who are increasingly troubled by this immoral war. It is bleeding out the souls of our two societies, U.S. and Iraqi. National politicians don't seem to see the daily damage being done.

The Gospel calls on us to defeat evil with good. There is no credible sign this unjust war would end, even in 10 years. So, a growing group - 10 to 15 members of five to six local churches - is taking its federal income tax dollars (in $100 amounts we name "Iraq Peace Bonds") from supporting this war, and redirecting some of the money to local needs for public education - in this case, our county library. We gave checks totaling $1,360, and are now in ongoing, collective, open civil disobedience to an unjust war tax.

Most taxpayers have withholding from their paychecks. They overpay during a tax year and receive refunds. This leaves no way to stop paying some portion for this unjust war. So we have been fine-tuning our finances and W-4 allowances now, so that something will be owed at the end of this tax year 2007.

The process is to withhold less now, so that each will pay $100 less for war this coming April 15, 2008. Some of us already have done this for the 2006 tax year. We file our 1040's, and pay the balance due, minus $100. We notify the Internal Revenue Service and Congress, of what is owed, but hold it instead in a peace escrow account, or donate the money - to the library, for example. We know the IRS still would bill us for that amount.

There are risks to this witness. Participants in this act of civil disobedience violate federal law.

We do this as a community, discussing details with friends, family, and tax preparers. The IRS likely will respond with form letters within months requesting payment with penalty and interest that accrue at 1-2% monthly.

Therefore, an initial $100 Iraq Peace Bond could cost about $125 with IRS penalties and interest by the end of a year. Yet remember: The IRS is not God. These are people just trying to do their jobs, and their main object is to obtain the money that they determine is due.

When all our soldiers are brought home, we will settle our outstanding debts with the IRS. Our troops are truly supported, by removing them from a place they never should have been sent.

The war in Iraq never can be successful because it was morally wrong at the outset. At its heart, we know this war violates the Tenth Commandment - we should not covet what belongs to our neighbor. We are a creative people, blessed and generous, in so many ways. We can find a way to live without controlling Iraq and its oil reserves.

Let us work and pray together, dedicating more of our time and treasure as a leaven for conversion - from the war economy toward a civil right of peacemaking.

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Protesters want to pay taxes, but don't want immoral war

Tax Day has come and gone, but some of us have decided Caesar has strayed too far with this unjust war in Iraq. We are rendering some of our tax dollars instead to what we believe God wants us to be